Finding your North Star

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Sakina Buoy, Founder and Chairman of The Somerset Toiletry Company. Returning from Canada in her ‘20s, Sakina joined a toiletry company called Applewoods, where she met her future husband. In 1999, they founded The Somerset Toiletry Company, which began life in buildings behind a pig farm in Clutton.Their small family business soon began to grow, but rather than move into the city, Sakina was intent on staying in Clutton, waiting 12 years for the right commercial premises to become available so that she could make sure all her team were able to stay working with her.On their 25th anniversary, they celebrated with 25 ‘acts of kindness’, a marathon series of events and charitable projects that raised their reputation locally.  Hers is an inspirational story of perseverance, of growth, of genuine love for the Somerset countryside, and pride in the products her business designs, manufactures and sells all over the world. Despite the regulatory, transport and housing challenges, Sakina would not want to be anywhere else.If you would like find out more about The Somerset Toiletry Company, why not visit their shop or their café – it’s here, on the main street through Clutton; or you can reach Sakina here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients navigate their business towards their goals, please contact us here. 

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Becky Flower.Born and raised in Somerset, Becky went to London to study sociology and social policy but came back after graduating to train in social work. She did some placements and eventually ended up doing some cover teaching at Richard Huish College. This experience led her to decide to go into teaching, and she has now risen to be Vice Principal. She is rightly delighted that Richard Huish is currently considered the highest performing college in the Southwest in terms of student progress.She is a strong believer in creating an inclusive and safe environment for the students to be who they want to be, to respect that other people have different opinions, to have a really open mind, to have faith in the skills that they have learned and to understand that they are transferable. She also advises students to recognise that even in your dream job there may be bits that are boring, but you just have to get on with it!If you would like find out more about Richard Huish College, or find out more from Becky about how they develop young people to be curious, to turn up, to work hard and to be kind, you can contact her here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients navigate their business towards their goals, please contact us here. 

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have built businesses and their careers in the county. In this episode, Sarah Chilcott speaks to Jonathan Lawson, who took over as CEO of Butcombe Group in 2019.  Butcombe Group includes Butcombe Pubs and Inns based in North Somerset and the Channel Islands’ Liberation Brewing Co. It employs over 1900 people and has 120 pubs across the south of England, with its growth outpacing its competitors in a challenging market.Jonathan talks about Butcombe’s roots and evolution to where it is today. He also covers their approach to growth and innovation in their product range and pubs, the importance of bringing a new generation into their business, and why their sustainable approach makes sense for the business’ commercials, not just the environment.If you would like to find out more about Butcombe Pubs and Inns, you can do that here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients prepare for their exit, pivot to a new market, grow through innovation, or develop their leadership teams, please contact us here. 

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Karl Tucker. Karl joined Yeo Valley in 1996 as they were expanding and developing the organic and quirky brand that we see today, rising to become their Chair in 2021. In 2017 he joined the Heart of the South LEP, becoming their Chair in 2019, and then went on to become chair of the Great South West in 2023, one of the few public private partnerships in the UK, along with the Midland Engine and the Northern Powerhouse, receiving funding from the Government.He talks about his utopia - to see all 4000 jobs at Agratas filled by young people coming out of college now and doing apprenticeships. He is acutely aware of the challenges facing Somerset and the rest of the Great South West – to persuade inward investors that the education and skills sector will produce the workforce needed, and that workforce has the infrastructure – housing, transport, broadband – to live.He is not afraid to say that he thinks we underestimate the scale of the problem, but he also says that the willingness and desire to make it better for investors is there, and if we can get this right, there is nowhere better in the country to locate and live and work and operate from.If you would like find out more about the Great South West, visit their website here,   or you can contact Karl here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients navigate their business towards their goals, please contact us here. 

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Mark Bolton. Born in the North-East, Mark started out as a freelance graphic designer supplementing his income with part-time lecturing. He must have good at it, because soon he was lecturing full-time, then moving into management. A serendipitous meeting with the then Dean of Yeovil College (Mark couldn’t have put a pin in the map to locate Yeovil at the time!), brought him to the college as Director of Employer Engagement, and then in 2019 he became CEO and Principal of the college himself. His tenure has seen the college double the size of the student population and increase the proportion of students who live outside Yeovil to almost 50%.Add to that over 400 apprenticeships in engineering, of which 150 are at the higher level, a close relationship with all the major employers in the area, particularly Leonardo, and his claim to be creating opportunities for young people to realise great career opportunities has considerable credibility. As he says, when you can access the level of support that Yeovil and the other colleges offer, have leading edge engineering companies on your doorstep, and enjoy all the benefits that come from living in Somerset, why would anybody want to be anywhere else?If you would like find out more about how Yeovil College work with the community of businesses in South Somerset, North and West Dorset, or find out more from Mark about the opportunities Yeovil College could help you realise, you can contact him here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients navigate their business towards their goals, please contact us here. 

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Harry Singer. Leading a company founded by his Grandfather that has just celebrated it’s 90th birthday, Harry talks with passion about the work he and his team are doing for biologists all around the world to accelerate science. Describing himself and his team as lucky enough to do some really nerdy, cool high-tech work, he recognises the privilege of living in an amazing part of the world. A stuffy old company Singer Instruments is certainly not, though, as one look at their website will tell you. He describes his Grandfather and Father as real characters, and is following in their footsteps to continue to build a company with real purpose that people want to be a part of.But he also recognises the challenges in there being not enough bright young sparks entering the STEM sector, and the problems that historically have caused so much friction in the planning process. If you would like find out more about the work Harry and his team at Singer Instruments does, you can contact him here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients navigate their business towards their goals, please contact us here. 

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Sarah Chilcott speaks to Sandy Luck, Managing Director at Aldwick Estate. Born and bred on Aldwick Estate, Sandy’s family has been farming the 300 acres of land now for five generations. When tragic circumstances propelled Sandy back into the business in 2011, she inherited a nascent events business and vineyard. The brainchild of her brother, she has grown both into a highly successful business which continues to innovate and move forward. In this episode, Sandy talks about what it means to be located here and the connections with other local producers. She also covers the Estate’s environmental approach, funded through the Sustainable Farming Incentive, and her desire to get young people engaged in all aspects of the business to drive innovation and growth. If you would like find out more about how Aldwick Estate, their events venue, vineyard tours and wines, you can contact them here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients prepare for their exit, pivot to a new market, grow through innovation, or develop their leadership teams, please contact us here. 

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Sam Harper. Born in Somerset, Sam describes himself as a proud Somerset person, ‘privileged to live and work in this wonderful place’. He travelled as far north as Bristol (!) to study for his geography degree and then overseas to see the world but has made his life in Somerset since returning to the UK in 2008.After working as a town planner in the public sector, he joined Stantec in 2019, where he is now Director of Planning and Growth. He has worked on many significant projects in Somerset – Hinkley Point, Gravity, Nexus – but is also proud of some of the smaller projects he has delivered, including improving pedestrian and cycle connections in Taunton town centre. In a wide-ranging conversation that includes the role of Somerset’s academic institutions as well as the need for investment in housing and new employment opportunities, Sam’s love for Somerset shows through. He ends with a plea to young people to take a look at what is on offer for them in the county – training and career options, as well as the quality of life living in Somerset offers. If you would like find out more about the work Stantec do, or find out more from Sam about opportunities he sees around the county, you can contact him here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients navigate their business towards their goals, please contact us here. 

In this podcast season, curated in partnership with Somerset Chamber of Commerce, hgkc are exploring Somerset with prominent business leaders who have made their lives and their careers in the county. In this episode, Peter Quintana speaks to Emma Warren. Wearing multiple hats - Chair of Somerset Chamber, Co-Chair of the Economic Growth Board, and now involved with the Skills Health partnership for Somerset – Emma is involved right at the heart of strategic visioning and planning for the county of Somerset. Born and bred here, she left for several years to expand her horizons, returning when she felt it was time to put down deeper roots and have her family. Growing up in a family of business owners, it felt right for her to follow, and she founded Elite Recruitment Solutions, which has built a reputation for helping their clients find the right people – in Jim Collins words, to get the right people on the bus. She talks about creating a world for young people where aspirations are achievable, where they have choices when they leave school, for education or for work, that encourage them to stay in Somerset, and encourage their families that this is the right place for them to develop their place in the world.If you would like find out more about how Emma and her team at Elite Recruitment Solutions help their clients find the right people, you can contact her here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients prepare for their exit, pivot to a new market, grow through innovation, or develop their leadership teams, please contact us here. 

I invited Roger Proctor, former Chairman of Proctor and Stevenson to join me on the live-talk stage at the Gloucester Business Show, where I asked him about how he felt when preparing to exit from P&S after 40 years, what he thought hgkc could offer, and how he was finding semi-retirement 18 months on. It's a fascinating insight into how a business owner who really cares about his business, and the people he has worked with for many years, comes to terms with leaving, and starts to allow the team taking over from him to run the business without him in it. 

In this episode of the HGKC podcast, Finding your North Star, host Kim Jones of hgkc welcomes Stacey Mead, HR Department Bristol, to discuss significant proposed changes in UK employment legislation following the election of a Labour government. They explore key topics such as the transformation of unfair dismissal rights to a day one entitlement, the clarity sought for employment statuses, and potential regulations on 'fire and rehire' practices. Other subjects include the implications of zero-hours contracts and the fundamental 'right to switch off' for work-life balance. The discussion emphasizes the need for businesses, particularly smaller firms, to educate and adapt to these changes for fairer employee treatment and competitive advantage.If you would like more information about any of the upcoming changes to employment legislation, you can contact Stacey Mead here.If you would like more information about hgkc help clients navigate their business towards their goals, please contact us here. 

Kim Jones from hgkc talks to Stacey Mead, Director of The HR Dept about the recent changes to employment law.  Stacey’s career began in the recruitment industry before moving into HR. Having joined The HR Dept in 2007 Stacey is now a trustee and member of The HR Dept Group board as well as The HR Dept Bristol and North Somerset. Stacey’s role involves developing and growing the business as well as The HR Dept's internal HR strategy, all whilst supporting her clients with their HR. Stacey and her team at HR Dept have a wealth of expertise and offer a friendly service for businesses seeking practical advice and support on all people matters.  Get in touch with Stacey at [email protected] or via her website. Don’t forget to connect with her on LinkedIn and read her excellent BLOG on all things peopley!

People are the Key is a collaboration between hgkc, Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace and DISCsimple, experts who work with businesses and other organisations that have issues with conflict and employee engagement. In this prerecorded conversation, Kim Jones and Jeremy Marchant explore why conflict can sometimes be perpetuated within the organisation when the cause of it is outside; what is meant by trust and trustworthiness, and why for some people it is so difficult to make that first step towards trust; conclude that without any conflict – grist in the mil – decision making becomes ineffective; and discuss the difference between stress and pressure. 

Peter Quintana talks to David Macdonald, founder of Path Financial, a wealth management firm that only invests client money in funds committed to positive impact. In a wide-ranging and inspirational conversation, David talks about the moment he realised he could no longer continue what he was doing and remain true to his values, how the Path is firmly focused on doing good for the planet and earthlings, his thoughts about the future of impact investment, and the problem that is green-washing.

Peter Quintana from hgkc talks to brothers Andy and Tim Fussell about their farming heritage, their pioneering move into producing cold-pressed, virgin rape seed oil and earning a place for it alongside olive oil in the culinary world, how buying steel is like buying a coffee, and why there is only one ‘l’ in fussels fine foods. The way that they have developed the fussels brand, to the point that is has become associated with rape seed oil, is an excellent example of the power that brand can have for your business.

Peter Quintana from hgkc talks to Carol Massay, Head of Construction at the Access Group, about her career in construction stretching over 30 years, the challenges she has faced in becoming recognised for what she knows, and her drive to promote equality, diversity and inclusion in a sector that has traditionally been dominated by white males.

Kim Jones from hgkc in conversation with Paul Netto, hgkc Associate, Accountant, Business Advisor and owner of Equifino. Paul has a long track record helping independent business owners achieve their goals, and in this podcast shares his strategic and practical advice to help independent business owners realise better exits from their businesses by starting early, focusing on their goals and getting a good understanding of value and the range of options to achieve a good deal.  

Kim Jones of hgkc in conversation with Sam Talby of undebt, a turnaround specialist, qualified mediator and insolvency practitioner, Sam shares his practical and thoughtful advice to help directors and owners get the best possible outcome when they hit their lowest point. We delve into the essential tests of viability, why transparency matters and options open to businesses facing failure. His compassionate approach is refreshing and reassuring when dealing with the most difficult of times.  

The dynamic team heading up ZiaBia embraced digital disruption in their corporate events company with the same creativity and “can do" approach that has fuelled their business since starting out in 2012. They have re-imagined events for clients and introduced new clients to the world of hybrid and virtual formats. Creating events that have an impact and their client’s love, from a mind-reading magician, escape rooms and cocktail making to whole company corporate conferences, events and charity fundraisers.  A pacy conversation filled with hints, tips and insights about events and running a successful business. 

Peter Marchbank MD of Rotary Precision Instruments was interviewed by Kim Jones from hgkc as he reflects on his four-year journey at RPI UK, bringing a specialist engineering company with a long history of innovation in rotary measurement into its next generation – of products and people.  He generously shares his lessons learned along the way and some of his blueprint for success.  His enthusiasm and lifelong passion for engineering shines through this interview as does his desire to inspire and invest in the next generation of engineers and innovators.  

Helen Moloney from All Things Web and Rich Kersey from ker-Z creative talk to Peter Quintana from hgkc about the five pillars of a good brand - Customer, Consistency, Creativity, Connection and Competition - and how the work they do with their clients in these areas leads to the Holy Grail of brand advocacy.

Many thanks to Andrea Sexton of AdmirePR for hosting this interview with Kim Jones of hgkc about planning and resilience on times of uncertainty, and for agreeing that we can share it as part of Finding your North Star, season 4 conversations. Kim talks about how important it is to care - not just about your people, but also about yourself.

James Short of hgkc speaks to Mark Watts, owner and founder of Yumo Finance, about the importance of understanding the financial flows through a business, and of planning in advance even in times of uncertainty. As an independent broker with a background in banking, Mark offers invaluable advice for how business owners can improve their cash flows and shorten their working capital cycles without resorting to borrowing, but also makes the case for borrowing at a time when loans are such a cheap form of money.

Kim Jones from hgkc speaks to Helen Isherwood is the Innovation Director at Adey, Queen’s Award-winning company recognised for their pioneering work in maintaining and protecting central heating systems in the UK and around the world.  Helen leads an ambitious team focused on product development and commercialisation of new products and services.  It’s an exciting time at Adey’s and Helen shares their secrets of success and how they are re-framing their innovation for a more disrupted future; from the customer-centric orientation of the business working with engineers and consumers to the collaborative and engaged mindset of the people at Adey. It’s a case study on the benefits of putting innovation at the heart of your culture.

Courage to lead with compassion and conviction - Mark Colbourne talks to James Short of hgkc about his journey of personal challenge and courage from the world of elite sport into business life.  His enthusiasm and drive are infectious as he shares his insights on building confidence, mindset, and wellbeing from his earliest days through to his world record breaking achievements at the 2012 Paralympics and his international speaking career.   To find out more about Mark’s story, www.markcolbourne.com  or follow him on Twitter MarkColbourne. 

As we move into the second phase of national lockdown in England, Sarah Owen of DISCsimple is in Conversation with Peter Quintana of hgkc about the impact significant disruptive change can have on the social, financial and emotional capital reserves of a business, and the urgent need for leaders to embrace planning as part of the solution. 

Continuing our series of Short Conversations, Sarah Owen of DISCsimple speaks to Kim Jones of hgkc and the most important cultural and people characteristics clients must have as we move into the second national lockdown in England, and how crucial it is that leaders keep thinking about the long term for their people.   

In this, the first in our new Conversations podcast series, Sarah Owen, founder of DISCsimple, talks to James Short of hgkc about how he brings his experience of leadership and planning from the military and also from his own business that he set up and ran profitably throughout the last financial crisis in 2008.  This advice is individually tailored to help hgkc clients battling with the current crisis and who are now facing a second national lockdown in England.

Kim Jones shares insights into the research that she's been doing into how business owners are approaching the need to innovate in a world that's changed not only by technology, but also by these extraordinary circumstances of social and commercial upheaval.Reframing is about having a plan for a disruptive future at the same time as delivering in a disruptive today.Kim’s insights include how business leaders and their workforce are getting more comfortable with making decisions to flex, becoming more human centric - putting people first – and then deploying technology at speed to innovate at scale. In doing so, they are developing workplaces and market offerings that really resonate with workers and consumers.              

We are living in complex times. People are becoming comfortable with digital communication and collaboration platforms; remote working and reduced social interaction are becoming the norm. In this webinar, hosted by Weston Chamber of Commerce, Peter Quintana and James Short of hgkc talk about the challenges of planning in uncertain times, why we believe it is critical that you do plan, and offering you some tips on how to do it. 

Experiencing more than a 90% drop in turnover overnight would be daunting for any business owner. Graham Preston of SFL Group talks candidly about their experience as an events production company facing exactly this situation, and how they have not only survived, but found new ways to do business with their clients. Viewing risk as an opportunity instead of a threat doesn’t mean being reckless, but moving forward carefully to ensure survival into the future. This interview was recorded at an hgkc round table on Business Risk, and was not conducted live for this podcast. Visit our events page for details of future round tables and other events that we run.

Chris founded financial planning company Ovation Finance in 2000, selling a majority to an Employee Ownership Trust in March 2018. For entrepreneurs like Chris, employee ownership is a new and innovative way of preserving their achievements. Done the right way, it will release fair value, preserve legacy and pass on control to employees without them having to raise finance. Chris talks candidly about his experience and gives some great insights into how you could prepare your company for an exit to an EOT. Find our more at https://theeternalbusiness.com/ or contact hgkc to talk about your options.

As a founding Director of a digital creative agency Gavin Jones shares his insights from the early days of a graduate start-up to a fully-fledged firm.  Elixel has a highly collaborative way of working.  Through design-led thinking, they create powerful digital experiences in websites and apps for their clients. Our conversation is a people-centred approach, exploring creative thinking, collaboration, problem- solving, trust, decision-making and that digital is not always the answer. Gavin and the team have grown a strong network of partners and a skilled local talent pool in Plymouth has enabled a thriving ecosystem to develop around them. Sharing the challenges of selling a digital product. Follow the story https://www.elixel.co.uk/

Modern have only ever known digital disruption and embrace the twin drivers of being technology-propelled and hyper-relevant to deliver success for their clients and their agency.How Modern is run is at the heart of their success. Kim Jones of hgkc, in conversation with Nicola Ray MD, used the seven strategies of high performing businesses from Accenture’s recent book “Pivot to Future” to frame our discussion. They have a well-balanced approach of being customer-centric and working collaboratively, a talented team supported by strong internal processes and a culture of innovation and experimentation. A focused and energetic peek into an exceptional business.

Brent Oldfield, co-founder and Head of Operations at Voltric Electric Vehicles shares with hgkc's Kim Jones his vision for transport of the future and how their business’s customer centric strategy has enabled Voltric to flex their business model and keep their pilot project on track.  Brent is focused on operations and strong processes to support the intrapreneurial team at Voltric as they enter a fiercely competitive marketplace with energy and determination. Their innovative and collaborative approach has secured them partnerships with private and public organisations as they embark on their pilot project.  

John Dray, founder of Cloud Genius shares his insights on running a remote business during the lockdown and the opportunity this created for developing new products and services.  John has a uniquely empathic approach to solving problems and helping his customers focus on what matters most to them - the relationships with their customers rather than their IT. Our conversation is peppered with stories, practical tips, and a little laughter.  John has kindly created a Tip Sheet too which can be found on Cloud-Genius website and on our hgkc blog.  

Kim Jones talks to John Rees, Head of New Technologies at Novel Engineering, who shares a personal reflection on scaling a robotics start-up and his take on how it can apply to any business.A strong engineering background made John a “builder at heart”. As a co-founder of Reach Robotics he shares in this engaging conversation how much he likes building businesses and the critical factors that make a tech business successful. He doesn’t shrink from the challenges and shares his learning with candid insights.   

Ed Palmer of 212 Radio interviews James Short, Director of hgkc about the key to virtual, but not remote, leadership - courage, confidence and communication.

Investing in data and technology to help clients optimise building performance - Phil Warren of ETS talks about improving building connectivity, healthy buildings, employee productivity and customer experience, and greatly easing the process of mothballing buildings and then bringing them back into service as we come out of lock-down.

Leading an SME, managing people in difficult times, staying legal, keeping people safe and staying in business are the topics in our latest Risk Management in a Crisis series of podcasts for leaders of businesses.Kim Jones runs a Q&A session with an expert panel that is packed with insights, hints and tips for dealing with the current situation and some thoughts about the future. Sarah Whittock of Whittock Consulting gave us some practical guidance and insight to ensure stay within the law and follow good practice; Lisa Jones of HeadStrong Training helped us understand how best to look after our employees, managers and our leaders experiencing stress; and Simon Kelly of Excellect encouraged us to review our existing employee benefits and activate them for our employees and think about the future.  The powerful thread running through our conversation was communication and listening to your people.  Being proactive and responsive, consistent, factual and fun. Please get in touch if you'd like to talk about how to survive and thrive through this crisis.

The Government has announced a range of measures to support businesses during this very challenging period, but the rules are evolving, and new announcements are regularly being made. James Short of hgkc talks to Matt West of Metro Bank about the support that is available, and discusses what you can do to manage short term cash flow problems. 

James Short, an expert in strategic planning, leadership and change management, talks from his experience about successful risk management and leadership in times of a crisis. James joined hgkc after being tempted out of retirement, having spent several years sailing around the world. He rose to Major General in the army following a highly successful military career in which he was honoured with CB and OBE; he is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management, and founded his own advisory business after leaving the army, which he successfully navigated through the 2008 financial crisis. 

In this second presentation in response to the Covid 19 pandemic, James Short of hgkc talks about leadership and how important it is to differentiate between leadership and management. Leadership is transformational, and the key quality of a leaders is the ability to communicate. For further information or support, contact us on [email protected], 0117 332 1002 or via www.hgkc.co.uk. Keep safe.

James Short of hgkc offers practical advice and guidance on how to survive the next few months with your business intact. Every business must find a way of continuing to do business, and vital to this is a SOAP - strategy on a page - and a communications action plan. For further information or support, contact us on [email protected], 0117 332 1002 or via www.hgkc.co.uk. Keep safe.

Emily Kenna, founder of Sense Risk Solutions, talks about her passion for all things insurance, the mindset and attitude that drives her to deliver a level of care that is unusual in a complex and highly competitive sector, and which has led her to set up a business that embraces diversity and inclusion, and genuinely listens

Zak Daud, founder and CEO of Eazi-Apps, talks about his mission to help entrepreneurs establish and build their mobile app businesses using an innovative drag and drop, ‘business in a box’ platform and a comprehensive package of support services, the satisfaction that he gets from seeing his partners successful, and his drive to change the very essence of capitalism for good.

David Nicholson, founder and Director of DNA Worldwide Group with his partner Hannah Nicholson, talks about his driving purpose, the science of DNA, living the potential of what you do, and how through the work the company does it helps people recognise their similarities rather than their differences

Jeremy Hymans, CEO of the Claims Consortium Group talks about how empowering people, with the right training tools and innovative technology, can disrupt the household claims sector and establish a new benchmark for how employees and customers are treated

Kate McEwan, owner and founder of Lotus Reflexology explains why she thinks people need to love their feet, and talks about how she is working towards making reflexology a serious alternative to some traditional drug treatments

Fourth generation family firm Managing Director, Martin Thatcher, talks about continuous change, the desire to win, and how innovation is shaping the past, present and future of Thatchers cider and his family.